One-piece wire can opener



Feb. 27, 1968 J. TERRlZA 3,370,743

ONE'PIECE WIRE CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 16, 1966 2Sheets-Shee1 1 n 0 I i l I r l I I l l I I I I Ull'lill Hnmy x /6 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1966 INVENTOR Jerom'mo 7rrza United States Patent O 3,370,743 ONE-PIECE WIRE CAN OPENER .leronimo Terriza, 128 Fort Washington Ave., New York, N.Y. 10032 Filed Feb. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 527,846 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-48) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A one-piece wire can opener for puncturing and cutting the cover of the can. The can opener has an elongated body turned upon itself midway its ends forming parallel reaches, one outside reach being pointed at its free end formed with a knife edge along the side thereof inwardly of the point, the other outside reach terminating in a triangular shaped handle. The bend in the body is formed with an indentation adapted to coat with the top edge of the can to facilitate puncturing and cutting of the cover of the can.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a one-piece wire can opener.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an all-wire can opener with a pointed end for penetrating the top of a can and with a side cutting edge for cutting around the top of the can.

Another object of the invention is to providean allwire can opener with means adapted to coact with the bead on the top of a can for guiding the can opener in its cutting operation.

It is also proposed to provide a combined can top and can opener.

Yet another object is to provide a can with means on the top thereof for removably storing a can opener.

Yet another object is to provide a combined can and can opener, the can having means on the top thereof for removably storing the can opener.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference should be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the top of a combined can and can opener embodying one form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view thereof, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 33 of FIG. 2, the can opener being shown in operative position in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the top of the can, the can opener being shown in operative position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2, a modified form of can opener being shown preparatory to puncturing the can.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the parts of FIG. 5 showin the step of lifting a portion of the top of the can with the can opener.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another modified form of can opener.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modified form of can top and yet another modified form of can opener.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of still another modied form of can opener.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the blank from which the can opener of FIG. 9 was formed.

FIG. 11 is a side edge view as seen from the line 11-- 11 of FIG. 9.

3,370,743 Patented Feb. 27, 1968 "ice Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 the top portion of a metal hollow cylindrical can 10 is illustrated. The can is open at the top and is formed with an overhanging annular flange 12 around the top, leaving a space between the flange and the body of the can. The opening in the top of the can is closed by a cover or lid 16 having a flat circular discshaped body 18 formed with an'integral annular upstanding short inner flange 20 continuing into an annular flat horizontal portion 22 and into an outer downwardly extending annular flange 24 turned upon itself forming an upwardly extending annular intermediate flange 26 spaced from outer flange 24 to accommodate the overhanging flange 12 on the top of the body of the can, thus interlocking the cover or lid 16 on the body of the can.

In accordance with the invention, the body 18 of the lid or cover 16 of the can 10 is formed on its upper surface with an elongated shallow recess or depression 30 extending substantially across the lid or cover as best seen in FIG. 2. The recess or depression 30 is substantially T-shaped having an elongated rectangular portion 32 terminating at one end in a pointed end 34 and terminating at its other end in an enlarged triangular shaped portion 36 in plan. The recess or depression 30 is formed with a countersunk portion 38 extending from midway its ends to its pointed end, the material of the lid or cover being looped and pointed at such pointed end to provide a pointed pocket 40 disposed underneath the body of the lid or cover. The body of the cover or lid 16 is preferably formed with a weakened circular line 41 around its bottom surface adjacent the inner upstanding flange 20 and with an indentation 43 intersecting the weakened line. A hole 45 is formed in the bottom of the indentation.

The invention contemplates a novel can opener 44 rem-ovably fitted in the recess or depression 30. The can opener 44 is formed from heavy round Wire stock and as best seen in FIG. 2 comprises an elongated body portion 46 bent laterally intermediate its ends, forming a cross piece 48, and turned upon itself extending rearwardly parallel to the body thereby forming a reach or length 5% and then extending forwardly paralleling the body, forming a reach or length 52 extending beyond the cross piece 48 and centrally thereof as indicated at 54, the extension 54 terminating in a pointed end 56. One side of the extension 54 is shaped to form a knife edge 58 therealong. The other end of the body terminates in a triangular shaped extension or enlargement constituting a handle 60. The cross piece 62 of the triangular shaped handle is bent upwardly and offset from the plane of the body of the can opener. The can opener 44 seats flatwise in the recess or depression 30 with its pointed end 56 inserted in the pocket 40 and its handle in the triangular shaped portion 36 of the recess, the handle being held against displacement by overhanging opposed integral lugs 64, 64 formed on the body 18 of the lid or cover.

The invention contemplates that the can 10 is to be marketed with the can opener 44 attached thereto for opening the can and gaining access to the contents.

In use, the can opener 44 is removed from its seat in the recess or depression 30 on the can and its pointed end 56 forced through the material of the lid or cover 16 at a point along the weakened line 41 as shown in FIG. 4 carrying the cross piece 48 onto the horizontal portion 22 of the lid. The can opener is then moved jerkingly forwardly and upward in a manner similar to the movement of a conventional can opener in the direction of the knife edge 58 whereupon the material of the body of the lid is severed for ready detachment.

In FIG. 5, a modified form of can 10' is shown as well as a modified form of can opener 44'. In this form of can, the lid or cover 16' is formed integrally with the body of the can and is formed with an integral upstanding flange 12. A weakened line 41 is formed in the body 18 of the lid or cover 16- adjacent the flange 12 and an indentation 43' is formed in the body intersecting said weakened line 41'. A hole 45 is formed in the bottom of the indentation.

' A can opener 44 is attached to the top surface of the body 18' of the lid or cover by adhesive 69 or the like. The can opener 44 is formed of heavy stock round wire and has a straight elongated body 46' with a blunt end 56' and with a triangular shaped handle 60'.

In use, the blunt end 56' of the can opener is inserted into the indentation 43 and through the hole 45 whereupon the blunt point 56' is lifted upwardly by using the flange 12' as a fulcrum as shown in FIG. 6 to tear the material of the lid or cover 16 and to lift up the torn portion as seen in FIG. 6 thereby forming an opening in the can for the escape of the contents.

In FIG. 7 another modified form of can opener 44" is shown which dififers from the can opener 44' in that instead of a blunt end, the can opener 16 has a pointed end 56" so that no indentation such as the indentation 43' is necessary to pierce the cover of the can, but the pointed end 56 will readily pierce the weakened line of the lid or cover.

The modified form of can a and can opener 44a shown in FIG. 8 is a composite of the cans 10 and 10 of FIGS. 1 and 5, respectively, and the can opener. 44' of FIG. 1, without the indented cross piece 48, and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

In FIGS. 9 to 11, inclusive, a can opener 44" embodying still another modified form of the invention is shown. The can opener 44x has a fiat rectangular body 46x one end of which is enlarged and indented as indicated at 70 forming a handle 60x. The other end of the body is formed with an outstruck portion 72 with a. pointed end 56x extending beyond the adjacent end of the body. One side of the outstruck portion 72 is formed with a knife edge 58x. The can opener 44x is used similar to the can opener 44 of FIG. 1. The can opener 44x was formed from the blank 74 shown in FIG. 10.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction here disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a can having a closed cover and a can opener removably attached to the cover, said can opener shaped to form a triangular shaped handle at one end, the other end of the body adapted to serve to puncture the cover for the discharge of the contents, the body being elongated and formed of heavy round wire stock and bent laterally intermediate its ends forming a cross piece, then turned upon itself extending rearwardly parallel to the body thereby forming a reach, then bent across and then extending forwardly paralleling the body, forming a reach extending beyond the cross piece and centrally thereof, the forward extension having a pointed end for puncturing the cover and having a knife edge formed therealong, said knife edge extending beyond the cross piece. The cross piece of the triangular shaped handle bent upwardly offset from the plane of the body, said first named cross piece with the top edge of the cover for puncturing the cover and cutting the cover therearound.

References Cited UNITED STATES EATENTS 815,477 3/1906 Sharp 22052 1,642,478 9/1927 Bardet et al. 22052 1,719,295 7/1929 Johnson 220'48 2,070,881 2/1937 Brown 22048 7 2,210,225 8/ 1940 Walensky 220-48 THE-RON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE T. HALL, Examiner. 

